RI language needs promotion
SURABAYA, East Java: Regents and majors in East Java show no interest in promoting the Indonesian national language, or Bahasa Indonesia, despite the fact that up to two million people in the province do not speak it.
Head of East Java language promotion agency Slamet Riyadi told Antara news agency that he had sent circulars and data for regents and mayors about the lack of mastery of the language, but apparently he received no response.
He said the lack of economic gains to be made from promoting the language as the main reason behind the officials' refusal to support the program.
The agency, nevertheless, has embarked on its own program to teach Bahasa Indonesia, mainly for the two million-strong population in the eastern part of the province.
A report from the Indonesian Language Center in Jakarta said that 15.6 million people barely spoke the national language, especially those living in East Java. -- Antara
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Batam to supply water to Singapore
BATAM, Riau: The Batam Authority plans to build a 160- kilometer-long pipe from Kampar river in mainland Riau to the industrial island as part of its effort to supply water to neighboring Singapore.
Head of the water administration unit of the Batam Authority Frieddy Tanoto said on Tuesday that a six-month feasibility study was underway to assess the possibility of carrying water from the mainland to Batam island.
As yet, an average volume of 385 cubic meters of water flowed from Kampar river to the sea without being effectively utilized, he said.
Frieddy said the supply of water from the mainland would be more than enough to meet the demand of Batam island alone, and the surplus could be supplied to Singapore as a commodity.
The tiny city-state of Singapore is at the mercy of neighboring countries like Indonesia and Malaysia for its water supply. -- Antara
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Noted figures bid for DPD seats
MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: A number of former high-ranking government officials are making their bid for the vacant seats at the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) to represent South Sulawesi in the 2004 general elections.
Of the 132 people who had picked up registration forms by Tuesday, noted figures like former chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council A. Baramuli, former state minister for state enterprises Tanri Abeng and former president of state-owned telecommunications company PT Indosat Jonathan L. Parapak were among those who had shown an interest in running for the DPD seats.
A number of local figures have also shown their intent to contend in the election scheduled for April 3 next year, including Iskandar Mandji, Halim Kalla, Azis Kahar Muzakkar, Tadjuddin Noer Said and Mansyur A Sultan.
The candidates will vie for four seats in the provincial DPD.
The planned DPD will be the first Regional Representatives Council to be elected directly by the people. -- Antara
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Army soldier missing in Papua
JAYAPURA, Papua: Members of the Trikora Regional Military Command have been trying to find their field commander Second Sgt. Irpan Efendi, who went missing on June 28, chief of the regional command Major GT Situmorang said.
Irpan went missing while he was patrolling Bewani village with a dog near the Indonesian Papua province-Papua New Guinea border, Situmorang confirmed here Tuesday.
Bewani village is known as a stronghold of the separatist Free Papua Movement (OPM), which has been trying to set up an independent state within the underdeveloped resource-rich province since the 1960s.
Before Irpan went missing, he was running alone in the direction of his dog, who was barking, but hours later the dog came back without his master, Situmorang said.
Irpan's subordinates then tried to find their chief but failed, he said. -- Antara